Recalled Bottled Water in 2025: What Happened, What the Regulators Say, and What You Should Do

Most people think bottled water is the safest, simplest thing to buy. But in 2025, we saw several reminders that even plain water or the containers that carry it can fail safety checks. A mixture of manufacturing errors, distribution mistakes and quality problems led to recalls from major brands and to a dramatic product recall of a popular reusable bottle that caused real harm.

For example, one high-profile incident began when a large beverage company pulled specific Topo Chico mineral-water cases after a distributor accidentally shipped product that had been on hold for testing, and regulators later flagged the issue. According to Newsweek, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave that recall a Class II designation in mid-June 2025, meaning the product could cause temporary or medically reversible health effects in some people.

At the same time, glass bottles for a premium sparkling water sold at Trader Joe’s were recalled because a percentage of the bottles showed a risk of cracking, which could cut people who handle them. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s public notice put the count at roughly 61,500 bottles affected.

And perhaps the clearest human cost came when 850,000 Ozark Trail stainless-steel water bottles sold at Walmart were recalled after lids could eject forcefully when opened — an apparently simple failure mode that, in three reported cases, led to people being struck in the face and two people suffering permanent vision loss. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Associated Press reported the recall and the injuries.

Those four events — and a smaller, regional recall announced by the St. Kitts & Nevis Bureau of Standards that included batches of Evian and other brands — show how wide the range of “recall reasons” can be: microbiological contamination, cracked glass, defective closures and regulatory non-conformity.

2025: What Got Pulled, Where and Why

This year’s recalls fall into two broad categories: product contamination or quality problems with the liquid itself, and faults with the bottles or caps that created physical danger.

One of the fastest-moving recalls in the spring involved Topo Chico mineral water sold in 16.9-ounce glass bottles in 18-packs at certain wholesalers. The Coca-Cola Company initiated a voluntary recall in late May 2025 after a distributor released product that had been on hold; public reports show the recall affected a small number of cases shipped to stores in Arizona, Louisiana, New Mexico, Nevada and Texas. Health coverage explained that the concern was potential contamination with Pseudomonas species, bacteria commonly found in the environment that can cause infections in people with weakened immunity. The FDA assigned a Class II risk level to the event. According to Newsweek, Coca-Cola said the impacted product had been removed and no illnesses were reported.

Trader Joe’s recalled Gerolsteiner Sparkling Natural Mineral Water in March 2025 after the CPSC warned that some 750-millilitre glass bottles in particular lot codes could crack and pose a laceration hazard. The practical advice from regulators and retailers was straightforward: stop using affected bottles and return them for a refund. The CPSC notice and subsequent coverage estimated the recall affected about 61,500 bottles.

A very different kind of recall in July 2025 involved the Ozark Trail 64-ounce stainless-steel reusable bottle sold at Walmart. This was not contamination of a liquid but a design or manufacturing defect in the lid. The CPSC notice and multiple news agencies reported three injuries and two cases of permanent vision loss when lids allegedly ejected with force. Regulators urged immediate discontinuation of use and return for refunds; retailers and the manufacturer worked with the CPSC to notify consumers. That recall shows how everyday items, even if inexpensive, can cause severe injuries when a small design flaw meets unlucky conditions.

Finally, small but important, the Saint Kitts & Nevis Bureau of Standards issued an urgent recall notice on June 2, 2025 listing five batches of bottled water (including an Evian lot number) for failing local conformity tests. The notice instructed retailers to remove the batches and consumers to stop use immediately. For islands and smaller markets, these local testing programs and quick public notices are essential public-health tools.

How Recalls Happen — and What Regulators Want You To Know

Recalls happen for different technical reasons, but the mechanics follow a common script: a company discovers (or is informed of) a problem, an internal hold or investigation begins, and if product has already left control points and poses a risk, the firm notifies regulators and retailers and initiates a recall. Regulators then classify recalls by risk — for FDA-regulated food and beverage products the agency uses Class I through Class III. A Class II recall (Topo Chico) indicates a scenario where exposure may produce temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences for some consumers.

Why is Pseudomonas a concern? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause serious infections — especially in healthcare settings and in people with weakened immune systems — and that some strains are antibiotic-resistant. In bottled water, Pseudomonas is not a routine contaminant, but where it appears it signals a breakdown in source protection, processing or storage controls. The CDC and FDA both remind consumers that bottled water is regulated and that firms must test and control sources and processing under current good manufacturing practice rules; nevertheless, contamination can occur at source, during bottling, in distribution or after purchase.

The Ozark Trail case illustrates a separate regulatory track: product safety overseen by the CPSC (closures, lids, pressure risks, laceration hazards). Cases where lids or caps fail fall under consumer-product safety rather than food safety, but the practical effect for a shopper is the same: stop using the product and follow the retailer’s remedy. The CPSC’s recall notices are specific about identifying marks, model numbers and remedies to help people confirm whether a product in their home is affected.

Experts who study recalls point out that no product category is entirely immune. “Most people assume that certain foods — dry goods, bottled water, canned soups — are simply too safe to be recalled,” says Darin Detwiler, a Northeastern expert, a food-safety policy expert. “But the truth is, no food is too safe. No product is above scrutiny.” His observation helps explain why even a familiar product like bottled water can show up on recall lists when routine testing or distribution checks fail.

What to Do — Simple Steps For Consumers and Industry

If any of this leaves you worried, here are practical, evidence-based steps you can take today.

First, check what you have at home. For branded bottled water, look for lot codes, UPCs and case numbers printed on the bottle neck or the box. For Topo Chico, affected lot codes were published in the retailer notice and press coverage; for Gerolsteiner the CPSC notice listed the lot codes tied to that recall. If your product matches, do not drink it — return it or follow the firm’s instructions for disposal and refund. “If you think you got sick from bottled water, contact your health department,” the CDC advises.

Second, vulnerable people should be extra careful. The CDC points out that Pseudomonas infections most often affect people with weakened immune systems. If you or someone you care for has a chronic condition, recent surgery, an indwelling device (like a catheter), or is otherwise immunocompromised, follow the recall advice strictly and seek medical attention if you develop worrisome symptoms.

Third, for reusable bottles and closures: don’t store carbonated drinks, fermented or perishable liquids in sealed systems over long periods. The Ozark Trail recall suggests that pressure build-up or unintended fermentation can create a dangerous condition; the simple habit of not storing carbonated or perishable liquids in wide-mouth insulated bottles reduces risk. If you own an affected reusable bottle, stop using it immediately and get the refund or remedy listed in the recall notice.

Finally, report illnesses or injuries. If you suspect you were harmed by a recalled product, contact your local public health authority and the retailer or manufacturer. Reporting helps regulators detect the true scope of a problem and may connect your report to an investigation that prevents further harm. The FDA maintains a recalls and safety alerts page for food and beverage products; the CPSC maintains a separate recall database for consumer products like bottles and closures.

Conclusion — Why this Matters

Recalls are not proof that a brand is “unsafe” across the board. They are a system working as designed: problems are detected, information is shared, and regulators and firms take steps to remove risk. But they are also a reminder that supply chains, packaging and storage are part of the safety equation. For consumers, the useful habit is simple: check lot numbers, follow recall notices, and report if you—or someone you care for—gets sick. For companies and regulators, the clear priorities are better source protection, tighter controls at bottling plants and quicker traceability so a single problem can be found and isolated before too many products move into homes.